FNS Documents & Resources

Attached are questions and answers from Nov. 20, 2009,  Dec. 15, 2009 and Jan. 26, 2010 on the implementation of categorical eligibility and the reporting requirements for categorically eligible households. These questions are in response to inquiries from the states.

A recently enacted law changes the treatment of the $25 supplemental weekly Unemployment Compensation payment authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2OO9 (ARRA) authorized.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created the "Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund" for certain veterans and the spouses of veterans who served in the military of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II. SNAP will exclude these payments from income and resources when determining eligibility and allotments, and for all other purposes.

This memorandum modifies the policy related to categorical eligibility for free meals or free milk for children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program.

This memorandum clarifies how SNAP benefits should be treated in determining eligibility for CSFP and TEFAP when the benefits are provided through SNAP Pilot Projects or SNAP Work Programs.

The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 under the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 extended Afghani Special Immigrant eligibility for SNAP benefits from six months to eight months.

This memo clarifies which retirement accounts the Act expressly excludes from resources.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 suspends restrictions on Able Bodied Adults Without Dependent participation in SNAP as of April 1, 2009 continuing through Sept. 30, 2010, unless state agencies choose to impose specific work requirements.

The recently-enacted Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 modified the criteria used by the Department of Labor for the extended benefits program for the duration of the legislation. As a result, some states qualify for the EB program based on the recently-revised criteria rather than the traditional criteria.